Study Desk

But when our time there was up, we returned to the ship to continue our trip. All the followers, even the women and children, came with us to the seashore. We all knelt down on the beach, prayed,

There was no hope that Abraham would have children, but Abraham believed God and continued to hope. And that is why he became the father of many nations. As God told him, "You will have many descendants."

Abraham was almost a hundred years old, so he was past the age for having children. Also, Sarah could not have children. Abraham was well aware of this, but his faith in God never became weak.

The true children of God are those who let God's Spirit lead them.

The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God's chosen children. And with that Spirit we cry out, " Abba, Father."

And the Spirit himself speaks to our spirits and makes us sure that we are God's children.

If we are God's children, we will get the blessings God has for his people. He will give us all that he has given Christ. But we must suffer like Christ suffered. Then we will be able to share his glory.

Everything that God made is waiting with excitement for the time when he will show the world who his children are. The whole world wants very much for that to happen.

That the creation would be made free from ruin—that everything God made would have the same freedom and glory that belong to God's children.

Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God's promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us his own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made free.

They are the people of Israel, God's chosen children. They have the glory of God and the agreements he made between himself and his people. God gave them the Law of Moses, the Temple worship, and his promises.

And only some of Abraham's descendants are true children of Abraham. This is what God said to Abraham: "Your true descendants will be those who come through Isaac."

This means that not all of Abraham's descendants are God's true children. Abraham's true children are those who become God's children because of the promise he made to Abraham.

And, "Where God said in the past, ‘You are not my people'— there they will be called children of the living God."

I am not trying to make you feel ashamed, but I am writing this to counsel you as my own dear children.

The husband who is not a believer is set apart for God through his believing wife. And the wife who is not a believer is set apart for God through her believing husband. If this were not true, your children would be unfit for God's use. But now they are set apart for him.

Brothers and sisters, don't think like children. In evil things be like babies, but in your thinking you should be like full-grown adults.

I speak to you as if you were my children. Do the same as we have done—open your hearts also.

I am now ready to visit you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don't want any of the things you own. I only want you. Children should not have to save things to give to their parents. Parents should save to give to their children.

So you should know that the true children of Abraham are those who have faith.